Europe's largest built hydrocracker shipped to France

April 4, 2005
Europe's largest built hydrocracker shipped to France GE Energy has build and shipped a 48,000 b/d distillate hydrocracker - one of the largest ever built in Europe
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GE Energy has built and shipped a 48,000 b/d distillate hydrocracker-one of the largest ever built in Europe-to Total SA's Normandy refinery at Gonfreville l'Orcher, near Le Havre, France. The reactor, which weighs nearly 1,450 tons and is 42 m long, was constructed in GE Energy's Massa, Italy, plant. Technip of Paris will install the new unit, which will enter commercial service in early 2006.The reactor was built by welding several rings of 267-mm thickness, and using materials able to operate at temperatures as high as 454º C. and pressures as high as 180 bar. Photo courtesy of GE Energy.